When children are asked to create a piece of debate-style writing, they often fall into the same trap.
They make a point.
Then they give a reason.
Then another reason.
Then another.
And before long, they've written what looks like a shopping list of facts.
The information might all be perfectly good, but it's not particularly persuasive.
There's a whole art to convincing somebody that your argument is worth listening to, and it's a skill that goes back thousands of years.
The art of persuasion
The ancient Greeks spent an enormous amount of time thinking about how to persuade people.
They developed the art of rhetoric, which is where we get the term 'rhetorical question': a question that doesn't really need an answer, designed to plant an idea in your head and encourage you to think about the subject in a particular way.
And that's what makes rhetoric so powerful.
It's about choosing words and arguments that make people think, feel and, hopefully, agree with you.
Three ingredients of a persuasive argument
The Greek philosopher Aristotle identified three main ways of persuading people.
They're called logos, pathos and ethos.
Don't worry, they're much simpler than they sound.
Logos is logic.
This is the one children are usually most comfortable with.
Facts, figures, evidence and reasoning.
It's the sensible, rational part of an argument that explains why something makes sense.
Pathos is emotion.
This is where we appeal to how somebody feels.
We might encourage them to feel excited, angry, sympathetic, hopeful or concerned.
It's about making the audience care about what we're saying.
Ethos is credibility and character.
It's about showing that we're trustworthy and appealing to the principles and values our audience cares about.
What's fair? What's responsible? Why should somebody believe us?
These three ingredients work together to make an argument much more persuasive.
Try arguing without one of them
Here's a simple activity you can try around the dinner table.
Pick a topic.
Something your child has an opinion about.
For example:
"Should schools have longer break times?"
Start by asking them to argue using only logos.
They might talk about exercise, concentration or the benefits of having more time outdoors.
Perfectly sensible.
But after a while, it can start sounding like a list of facts.
Now try using only pathos.
"Imagine how miserable it feels to be stuck in a classroom when all you want to do is run around outside with your friends!"
Much more emotional.
Perhaps a little dramatic.
Now try ethos.
"Schools have a responsibility to look after children's wellbeing, and every child deserves time to rest and play."
We're appealing to shared values and ideas about what's fair.
Each approach has something useful to offer.
But imagine combining all three.
Bring them together
Now ask your child to build an argument that uses logic, emotion and shared values.
They might start with a fact, move into an emotional example and finish by appealing to what they believe is right.
They could even throw in a rhetorical question.
"How can we expect children to concentrate throughout the day if we don't give them enough time to recharge?"
Suddenly, the argument starts to sound much more mature.
There's substance behind it, but there's also style.
And that's what makes persuasive writing interesting.
Give them the language to persuade
Once children understand these three ingredients, they can start experimenting with the language they use.
Rhetorical questions.
Repetition.
Powerful adjectives.
Persuasive sentence openers.
Phrases that introduce evidence, challenge an opposing view or encourage somebody to reconsider their opinion.
Our LinkyThinks Word Wheels can be particularly useful here, with formal phrases that help children express their arguments more confidently.
You can even repeat the same dinner-table activity with a different topic, or ask your child to argue the opposite of what they genuinely believe.
That's a brilliant way to develop reasoning and critical thinking too.
Persuasion is a life skill
Being persuasive is useful well beyond English lessons, 11+ exams and GCSEs.
Children will spend their lives having to explain opinions, defend ideas, negotiate, disagree and convince other people.
And the ability to do that thoughtfully, respectfully and effectively is incredibly valuable.
So next time your child is writing a debate, encourage them to think about the person reading or listening.
What will convince them?
What will make them care?
And what might make them see things differently?
How LinkyThinks can help
At LinkyThinks, we help children build the English, reasoning, writing and communication skills they need for school, 11+, entrance exams and beyond.
Our online classes help children think more carefully, explain ideas more confidently and develop stronger habits across creative writing, comprehension, vocabulary and reasoning.
If your child is preparing for 11+, entrance exams or GCSE English, our online tutoring can help them build those skills in a supportive, engaging environment.
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